This was the 33rd Downtown Mile.
The Downtown Mile, held in July 1994, was the first race managed by the Fredericksburg Area Running Club. Chris Campbell was the original director. For the first two years, the evening race started on Pitt Street and ran the entire length of Sophia Street to the City Dock.
From 1994 to 2024, the race was held in person 30 times, with a virtual race in 2020. It has been held on Saturday evenings in July or May, and a few times on Sunday mornings. From 2010 to 2012, the race was called the Wild Mile and was held in Celebrate Virginia South around Halloween.
Over the years, FARC, the Kiwanis, and the Mental Health Association managed the race. Since 2013, it has been an evening race in July on the current George and Hanover Streets course.
In 2019, FARC postponed the race to September due to extreme heat and an 82-degree dew point. Race directors liked the cooler night and decided to schedule the race permanently in September. This year, Angela Anderson took over as the race director. Last year, a group managed the race. In prior years, Sara Gilliam and Brian Morgan headed the event.
I left my house at 3:15 pm for the 5:15 start time. I was responsible for meeting with the police officers directing traffic at 4:30. It took about 20 minutes to walk across the Chatham Bridge to Charles Street.
Around 4 pm, I walked over to where I was to meet with the police. One was already there. I warmed up with some walking and short runs until 4:25, when I did the police brief. On the way back to the start line, I moved the “Road Closed” sign into place at George and Prince Edward, then dragged the sign blocking Charles from George to Hanover. Others were supposed to move these in the race plan. I chatted a little with the cyclists and a few course marshals.
My race started at 5:15 pm. After the females started at 5 pm, I walked and ran a bit, then returned to the start line and hung out at the back for a few minutes before the gun.
I wore shorts over compression shorts, my blue FARC singlet, and my Saucony Triumph 24 shoes.
Since last November, I have not run an entire mile without walking some. My goal was to run the downs and walk the ups. As part of my run on Friday, I tested my plan, and my heart rate did not exceed 130 bpm. I set my heart rate alarm to 142 (90% of max). If my alarm went off while running a down, I would walk until I reached the top of the next hill. Since starting Flecainide, my heart rate has been lower with fewer PACs.
At my race start, the temperature was 84 degrees with a 69-degree dew point and partly cloudy skies.
I started OK when the gun went off, but I got left behind, running smoothly with only a few behind me.
Before the race, I checked for the people in my age group. There were two that I knew and one other.
By the bottom of the hill at Kenmore Avenue, I was unexpectedly ahead of the two I knew. Looking at my heart monitor, I was at 140. They both passed me as I walked to the top of the hill to Sunken Well. I hoped that my heart rate would drop. It did a little, but not below 130.
Running back down to Kenmore, I passed one of them, and another person was behind me. So, I wasn’t DFL.
Once I got back to the Hanover George Streets split, I started up the next hill and was passed by all but one.
After passing Prince Edward Street, I started my run to the finish. Turning onto the homestretch, I saw the finish clock was still under 10 minutes. I was surprised.
Although I knew where the quarter-mile locations were, I did not take splits on my Timex. From Garmin, my splits were 2:21, 2:57, 2:12, and 3:04.
Elevation varied from 62 feet at the start/finish, 43 feet at Kenmore Avenue, and 61 feet at Sunken Well.
My finish time was 10:34, 55 seconds slower than in 2025. This run was my 23rd Downtown Mile finish. I placed 114th overall, 79th among males, and 3rd of 3 in the 70 and over age group.
My average heart rate was 132 bpm, peaking at 143 bpm in the first section; my high heart rate alarm never went off.
I walked a little to cool down, then I had to write award checks and help with the award ceremony.
I was happy about my result. My Kardiamobile on Sunday morning indicated Sinus Rhythm with Wide QRS. So I need to avoid strenuous activity.
My active Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix finish streak is the fourth longest at 79 races. I now have the third and fourth longest finish streaks. Also, I received the third piece of the Grand Prix medal when finishing my ninth race in 2026.
Up next is the Plaid to the Bone 10km on October 11, 2026.